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'Cat wrestlers claim own tourney title

Peak time is right time

Bill Armendariz, Headlight Editor

Posted:
02/10/2013 04:02:02 PM MST

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Wildcat 152-pounder David Padron (top) sets up his Roswell opponent for the fall during a wrestling dual in pool action at the Deming Invitational Tournament, Saturday at Deming High. Padron was voted the tournament s Most Outstanding Wrestler in the middleweight division.

Peak time in high school wrestling is when all athletes are in tune with each other and at the top of their game. Deming High coach Jesse Padron can sense his Wildcat varsity reaching toward that summit.

"I feel like we are starting to peak at the right time with district and state just around the corner," Padron said following his team's championship win in the Deming Invitational Tournament on Saturday. "This was our second straight tournament championship (won at Mayfield last week)."

The Wildcats bested the field of 12 teams competing in the tournament with a 5-0 dual record. Deming closed out its' dual season at 23-2.

St. Michael's, ranked No. 1 in Class 3A, finished runner-up to the 'Cats at 4-1, followed by Las Cruces Mayfield at 4-1 and Anthony Gadsden at 3-2.

Deming was led by two wrestlers selected "Most Outstanding" for the tournament. Junior Mikey Hernandez (113 pounds) dominated the lightweight division and stayed perfect during the tournament duals.

Junior David Padron (152) was also perfect in excepting all comers at the middleweight division.

The 'Cats breezed through pool play in the morning session, defeating Centennial, 81-0; Roswell, 52-16; and Santa Teresa, 64-9.

They measured up Gadsden in the afternoon championship round and defeated the Panthers to move into the finals against the Horsemen of St. Mike's. The 'Cats avenged some losses from a previous tournament in Santa Fe and defeated the Horsemen 46-21, winning 10 of 14 matches they wrestled.

After dropping the first match against St.

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Mike's at 132 pounds, Daniel Myers posted a big win at 138 pounds with a fall.

Edrick Boomgaarn followed with a 3-2 decision at 145 pounds and Padron scored a major decision (13-1) in his 152-pound bout.

Frankie LeMay kept the win streak going with a 5-3 decision in a tough 182-pound match.

Senior Taylor Meyers picked up a win by default when an incidental head butt left the St. Mike's opponent unable to continue.

Ryan "Tiny" Sibbett avenged an earlier season loss at 220 pounds from back in January.

Matthew "Tato" Hernandez rolled past the 106-pound match with a first-period pin and Mikey "Beaver" Hernandez pinned Class 3A state runner-up Gino Palermo at 113 pounds. Hernandez is last year's state champion at 106 pounds and is considered an elite contender to claim state at 113 pounds this year.

Angel Villa took liberties in his 120-pound match and tossed a 13-0 shutout to round out the Wildcat championship match victories.

"All in all, I am extremely pleased with how the guys wrestled this past weekend and with this being our second straight tournament championship," coach Padron said. "We will continue to work on the things we need to focus on and prepare ourselves for the upcoming post season on the mats."

During the regular season, Deming won the Rio Hondo, Mayfield and Deming tournaments, placed second at St. Mike's and fourth at El Paso Bowie.

Bill Armendariz can be reached at barmendariz@demingheadlight.com. Follow us on Twitter: @demingheadlight.